Bougainville expecting by-election

NORTH Bougainville is heading for a by-election even before the General Election 2022 (GE22) result is announced for the electorate.
A by-election is imminent if the late and incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) William Nakin is declared the winner after the counting of ballots.
Nakin is the 10th MP to die in office in the 10th Parliament (2017-2022).
He passed away in Port Moresby General Hospital on Tuesday.
Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said in the case of a death of a candidate before the end of the polling period, Section 95 of the Organic Law on National and Local-Level Governmenent Elections provided for the return of the candidate’s nomination fee to his/her legal representative.
“The legal framework, however, provides no guidance on how to address any formal ballots cast for a deceased candidate during the counting process,” he said.
“Thus, the Election Commission (EC) is setting a policy to address this lack of legal guidance.
“Furthermore, Section 94(2)(a) of the Electoral Law only allows for the withdrawal of nomination before the hour of nomination, with no provisions for withdrawal after close of nomination.
“Therefore, once a candidate is nominated, he/she remains nominated, whether alive or deceased, until a winning candidate is declared and the corresponding election writ is returned to the Governor-General.”
Sinai said the EC was aware of the demise of candidates from the following electorates:

• NEW Ireland provincial (Augustine Molonges);
• CHUAVE open (Paul Sirigine);
• SUMKAR open (Chris Yer Naugoi); and,
• AMBUNTI-DREIKIKIER Open (Misimbi Lawrence Wang).

He said the EC had inserted a blank square marked “DECEASED” on the candidate’s poster to replace the draw number, name and photo of the deceased, and party affiliation or independent status to inform voters of the death.
“We acknowledge the risk that a deceased candidate could win and be declared (duly) elected, but if this happens, then Section 106 of the Constitution provides for a by-election if the office of an elected member becomes vacant,” he said.
“We will then conduct a by-election pursuant to Section 74 of the Electoral Law.”

Nakin hailed as committed, humble leader

THE late North Bougainville MP William Nakin has been described as a soft-spoken, humble and committed leader.
He passed away at the Port Moresby General Hospital on Tuesday – the 10th MP to pass away in the 10th Parliament.
Wewak MP Kevin Isifu, the chairman of the Constitutional Law Reform Commission of which Nakin was a member, said Nakin had provided steady, mature, experienced leadership and took part in useful discussions on law reform.
“(He had a) deep-seated desire for constitutional and legal changes to be meaningful and helpful to the ordinary people,” Isifu said.
Isifu also praised Nakin’s efforts as a first-term MP to start impact projects in North Bougainville.
Commission secretary Dr Mange Matui said Nakin had the heart and mind for law reform which was displayed through his commitment, dedication and participation.
Nakin was the third member of the commission to pass away.
The others were former chairman Joe Mek Teine and former deputy chairman Sir Bernard Narokobi.
National Alliance Party leader and Aitape-Lumi MP Patrick Pruaitch described Nakin as a humble leader, adding that the party was saddened by his sudden and unexpected passing.
“Having been elected to Parliament in 2017, he set about improving public infrastructure such as hospitals and aid posts, schools, and community centres throughout North Bougainville,” Pruaitch said.

Counting for Central starts today in Port Moresby

COUNTING for Central is expected to begin today in Port Moresby, following the arrival of 96 ballot boxes from Kairuku and Goilala, according to provincial election manager Peter Malaifeope.
The 96 ballot boxes are at the Murray Barracks counting centre.
Malaifeope said they were waiting for the ballot boxes from Hiri-Koiari, Abau, Rigo and the rest of Goilala to arrive in Port Moresby.
“(But) we will not wait for the other ballot boxes. Counting will commence with the ones we have received so far,” he said.
He said they were facing issues with transporting ballots to Port Moresby.
“(It) would depend on the availability of the helicopters because places like Goilala, inland Rigo and Mt Koiari in the Hiri-Koiari electorate will need a chopper to extract the teams,” he said.
“All the counting for Central would be in Port Moresby.
Counting for Rigo, Abau and Goilala will be at the Bomana CS College while Kairuku, Hiri-Koiari and the regional seats will be at Murray Barracks.”

Sir John Guise Stadium, Rita Flynn govt facilities: Sinai

By HELEN TARAWA
ELECTORAL Commissioner Simon Sinai says the use of the Sir John Guise Stadium and the Rita Flynn Sports Complex should not be an issue as they are Government facilities.
Sinai was responding to the removal of the Moresby North-East polling officials from the venues because of a dispute over the cost of hiring.
“We are (saying that) these are government facilities so we just use them and pay for the utilities such as water and power,” he said.
Sinai said the arrangement had already been discussed with Ivan Pomaleu, the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council secretary.
Yesterday, election officials were told to leave the Sir John Guise Stadium because the use of the venue had not been paid for.
Sinai said the cost of using the two venues was around K50,000.
Pomaleu confirmed that he had talked to those managing the two facilities who allowed the polling officials back into the building.
The Sir John Guise Stadium is the venue for the Moresby North-East counting. Officials had been gathering there since Monday.
“We are asking them to maintain the administrative costs since we are a State-owned agency and these properties are owned by the government,” Sinai said.
The venue is being guarded by security personnel as polling officials prepare for counting to begin on Friday.